Giving Books a New Lease of Life at Book Exchange 2013 [Press Releases]

Singapore, 24 April 2013 – Book lovers can exchange their well-loved books and share the joy of reading with other like-minded people at this year’s Book Exchange on 18 May. To be held at The Plaza at the National Library Building, this is a platform for people to recycle and share their treasured reads with other avid readers.

The National Library Board (NLB) is organising the Book Exchange as part of a three-week programme line-up to commemorate the World Book and Copyright Day. Through the annual book-recycling event, NLB hopes to get people to read more widely. The Book Exchange has been supported by Keppel Land since 2011.

With its strong focus on environmental sustainability, Keppel Land is the main sponsor for this book-recycling initiative for the third consecutive year. Mr Ang Wee Gee, Chief Executive Officer of Keppel Land, said, “Keppel Land shares in NLB’s vision of encouraging continued education through reading, while at the same time cultivating a green mindset through Reducing, Reusing and Recycling. This is in line with our commitment to nurture communities, especially the young, as well as ensure minimal harm to the environment.”

From 27 April to 12 May, book lovers can drop off their books at any of the 24 public libraries (with the exception of library@chinatown) between 11.00am and 8.00pm. The collection will be extended till 17 May at the Central Public Library, and till 4pm on 18 May at the event grounds. Fiction and non-fiction books in the four official languages are accepted. A coupon will be issued for each book collected, which can be used to exchange for other books at the main event on 18 May from 8.30am to 6.00pm.

Keppel Land will rally employees from across the Group, as well as their tenants, customers and business associates at nine of its commercial properties and residents of two waterfront properties to donate their used books. Staff volunteers will be volunteering to help with the sorting and displaying of books for the Book Exchange. Coupons which are not taken up by Keppel Land’s tenants and staff will be donated to the Straits Times Pocket Money Fund, Metropolitan YMCA, as well as PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Tanjong Pagar, where Keppel Land staff have been volunteering since April 2012.

During the Book Exchange, NLB’s reading ambassador and author of children’s books, Mr Neil Humphreys, will be conducting storytelling sessions together with his daughter to encourage younger visitors to read.